Pete and I went out on our new paddle boards on the Rothes Pond yesterday.  Look at how beautiful the weather is when a few minutes earlier we had a snow storm.  The boards are great fun and will take a bit of getting used to.  Certainly developing some new skills and my sense of balance.

SCA Coach Update Training Saturday 26 November 20111

We delivered a coach update training based at the Adventure Aberdeen premises on Saturday.  The day comprised of classroom work on Foundation Paddle Skills and workshops in the morning and practical application of these skills on the water at Inchgarth Reservoir in Aberdeen in the afternoon.

Lots of great ideas were discussed and explored and lots of coaching applications were challenged.

This training course allows coaches to be brought up to date with current coaching methods and current good practice.

We have been very busy of late, running a 3* training and assessment and White Water Safety and Rescue training  for Lochaber College, a coasteering day down at Bow Fiddle Rock and a staff training day on the Dorbach Burn.

Great success was had in all these events.  We have also sorted out our facebook page, now having a single Aquaplay Scotland business page which hopefully makes life easier for people to keep up with our news.

Season drawing to a close but we have an SCA coach update training to provide next weekend.

Busy weekend 21-22 October 2011

We have had a wonderful weekend, coasteering with a group of people from India but based in Aberdeen on Saturday. Down at Portknockie the team who were not great swimmers really stretched their comfort zones with the swimming and jumping challenges we set them. Great fun had by all and the day finished with huge grins and smiles all round.

Sunday saw us on the Middle Findhorn kayaking with Kelly and Roland. The river was high and challenging but the rapids were taken on head on and many squeals were heard in the bigger wave trains and drops.

It was great meeting all these new customers and we really hope to see them and their friends visit us again very soon.

Kayaking Spey 9 October 2011

A stag doo with no pics, sorry, on Saturday, with a days coasteering at Portknockie in a very big sea. A great challenge to the team and lots of group decision making to be done. Great feedback from the guys and well done to Jonathan, Callum and Pete for great leadership skills.

On Sunday we had our kayaking group out, booked through Living and Social, and had a great run down the River Spey from Knockando to Aberlour. A fantastic trip in sunshine and high water and the fishing season is over so the river was all ours.

The team seemed to enjoy themselves and were interested in the other activities we have lsted on our web site>

Have a look for yourself!

September Update

Despite the broken ankle I have been busy keeping the new web site updated. Have a look at our Carbon Zero status where we are supporting a very worthwhile project in Kenya.

I have recently worked on a BCU Level 1 Coach training and Assessment for Adventure Aberdeen. How far can you edge an open boat without getting wet?

Aquaplay are still getting a steady number of bookings. We have groups out over the next 2 weekends so the guys are all working hard supporting me.

I managed to pick up my new carbon frame road bike and have been out for a couple of short runs trying to get my ankle working again.

Gorge Walking with Mosstodloch Scouts

What a wonderful day gorge walking with Mosstodloch Scouts and their visitors from Denmark! Despite water levels being a bit low they still found the deep pools to jump into and generally have loads of fun. I was very impressed by the skills and effort everyone put into the activity and I learned a wee bit about Denmark. Its a pretty flat country with its highest hill being some 600 metres high. Apparently its called Sky Hill!!

Thanks to Mark and Louise for their excellent leadership support. I think you both enjoyed it as much as the kids.

Loads of kit washed and dried and put away tonight. The new van worked brilliantly, was able to hang the wetsuits, cags and ba's on bars across the van in their sizes. Made handing out kit so easy.

Two open boats and other bits of kit went out on hire on Monday and was returned tonight.

Hoping to get back to work on the bunkhouse over the weekend.